Teen in Treatment for over 500 days found Dr. Phil’s Path to Recovery a Life Changer

Recently, Inspirations for Youth and Families, a teen substance abuse and mental health treatment center, interviewed a teen from their facility about her experience using Dr. Phil’s Path to Recovery Virtual Reality tool. In the interview, Grace Kendall tells of her struggle with depression, anxiety, the suicide of two friends and her own drug addiction. This was her 5th rehab center with over 500 days treatment in total. With the Dr. Phil Path to Recovery platform she thrived, using this state-of-the-art technology only been made available to a handful of addiction treatment centers in the U.S.

Before starting the Dr. Phil virtual reality program, Kendall felt like she didn’t know where her life was going and couldn’t resolve past grief in a healthy way. Overcoming addiction and loss was her sincere goal going into treatment, but she relapsed continuously. In this treatment, however, and using the virtual reality tool, she finally broke through.

Press Release

First year and scientific studies support the results of long-term monitoring

Palm Springs, July 14, 2017: Ken Seeley Communities Rehab (KSC Rehab) announces a long-term support and monitoring program for those recovering from substance abuse or addiction. KSC Rehab is the first in the country to be approved to offer this monitoring program to the public. After one year of offering this program, KSC Rehab is seeing high rates of success.

Each year over 50,000 people in the United States die from drug related overdoses. Annual cost related to crime, health care and lost work productivity is over $520.5 billion due to alcohol, illicit drugs, and prescription opiates.1,2,3,4,5 Even with medical treatment, relapse rates reach between 40-60%.6

However certain groups are finding relapse rates far below the national average. Licensed professionals such as doctors, pharmacists and pilots are provided with aftercare programs by the state or federal government for 3 to 5 years following treatment. Similar monitoring programs are in place in the judicial system with high rates of success for those enrolled. Monitoring programs maintain a relationship with the patient, mandating contact with a counselor as well as random drug and alcohol screenings. In one sample study, nurses, physicians, and pharmacists were reported to have relapse rates near 8-12% compared to 39% for those without a monitoring program.7 Long-term success was also seen in judicial monitoring programs, with over 85% completing multiple year programs with little or no relapse.8

The Joint Commission national accreditation organization for healthcare has approved Ken Seeley Communities Rehab to create and manage a program based on those proven successful for physicians and the judicial system. This program gives recovering addicts and alcoholics the support needed to change behaviors and create an environment that promotes long-term recovery. A recovery advocate monitors each individual through phone calls and random screenings, works with families to build a safe environment and relationships, and creates documentation that useful for parents, spouses, jobs and legal circumstances.

Headquartered in Palm Springs, California, Ken Seeley Communities Rehab is one of the nation’s leading rehabilitation centers, specializing in treating substance abuse from interventions through aftercare and case management. These programs offered at Ken Seeley Rehab, even intervention, and long-term recovery programs are covered by PPO insurance. These long term monitoring programs are a new and important resource used by Ken Seeley and his staff and will greatly enhance drug addict’s chances of long term success.

The club drug Molly, which is a street name for a drug called MDMA, has been linked to an increasing number of deaths recently. This is very troubling for a number of reasons, not least of which is the fact that many of the deaths related to the designer drug are occurring within teens and young adults. These tragic instances have left many parents and concerned friends wondering exactly what Molly is and why it has risen to popularity as of late.

MDMA in the United States

Although MDMA has been used in the United States since the 1970’s, when some therapists thought that it may have some psychopharmaceutical benefits for disorders like Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, the drug rose to popularity as a recreational drug in the 1990’s with the arrival of rave culture, a social phenomenon borrowed from Europe.

As MDMA became popular at rave events, it often showed up in the form of a drug called ecstasy, which was generally a pressed pill that often combined MDMA and a wide variety of other drugs, which included methamphetamines, heroin, and hallucinogenic drugs like LSD. Perhaps because these pills varied quite a bit from one to another and often carried with them very severe side effects, they lost popularity and have now been replaced by Molly, which is a powdered version of MDMA that is often snorted or put into capsules.

The Safer Ecstasy?

As Molly became more and more popular, many people began to tout it as a safe alternative to Ecstasy. This dangerous misconception may be the reason that Molly grew in popularity and that a broader group of people began using the drug. In fact, Molly is no safer than any other form of this very toxic substance. It carries with it very severe health risks, and can be deadly.

The idea that Molly is safer because it is “pure” is misleading for a few reasons. Firstly, there is no way of knowing exactly what a street drug like Molly is comprised of. The powdered version of MDMA can be cut with a number of substances, including very strong stimulants like crystal meth or cocaine. Secondly, even if Molly is comprised of only MDMA, it still carries very serious risks. Using Molly can result in death or serious injury from seizure, stroke, overheating, and overdose.

Molly and Raves

Perhaps one of the reason that makes this dangerous drug so pernicious is the fact that it is generally used by people at electronic music festivals or raves. Both raves and MDMA entered the social conscious in the United States around the same time, and for many people, the two go hand in hand. The rise in deaths from this drug may very well be attributed to the rise in popularity of electronic music festivals. These festivals are a terrible place to take an already dangerous drug.

One of the ways that the drug can become fatal is by causing a person to overheat. This is a risk any time Molly is consumed, but this risk is certainly compounded by the environment at raves. Most raves are attended by very large groups of people who very often dance extremely close together in very confined spaces, even if the festival occurs in the middle of a very hot day in the summer in a region of the country that has humid summers, as was the case in the tragic deaths of two teens at the Electronic Zoo Festival in New York last summer. To make matters worse, many rave attendees dance for very long periods of time, which only heightens their risk for a deadly overheating episode.

One of the country’s top electronic music festivals, Electric Zoo, recently cancelled its third day of programming after two concert goers who attended the first two days of the concert died due to what appear to be drug related issues. Four other concert goers are also currently being hospitalized and are in serious condition after using drugs at the festival. The decision to cancel the last day of the festival was made by the event’s producer, Made Event, in conjunction with the New York City Parks Department. Festival passes, which carried a relatively hefty fee at $179.00 a day will be refunded to ticket holders who were intending on attending the last day of the festival.

MDMA

The drug that seems to be responsible for the deaths and injuries at the festival seems to be MDMA, which is often known by its street name Ecstasy. MDMA was developed in Europe at the turn of the century and was popularized in the United States in the 1970’s by experimental psychiatrists and therapists who initially used the drug in an attempt to help patients find answers about themselves and their relationships.

It was soon found, however, that MDMA was not in fact the constructive tool that therapists initially believed it to be. The drug was found to have serious risks associated with it, including dehydration, overheating, and heat stroke. Even attempts to avoid overheating and dehydration can be fatal when a person is under the influence of MDMA, as the drug can cause the body to retain water, and injuries caused by excessive water intake can be fatal.

Drugs and Electronic Music

The drug Ecstasy has long been associated with the electronic music scene. The Electric Zoo is not the site of the first MDMA related fatalities. Over the last decade, there have been a number of drug related deaths at electronic music parties, often referred to as raves. At an electronic music festival called the Electric Daisy concert in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2010, a fifteen year old girl died of an apparent overdose. The drug is popular among young people and electronic music concert goers in particular because it alters the way a person experiences music and may compel them to spend all night dancing.

Drugs can be particularly dangerous in the context of a large concert or festival because due to the nature of the event, it can be difficult to notice in a large crowd when someone is exhibiting signs of overdose or heat stroke. Young people are often unsupervised at these events, and extremely large crowds of people are difficult for security to monitor effectively. Most venues and producers do make an effort to curtail drug use at their events. Drugs are prohibited, and there is generally signage outside of events reminding concert goers of this. Security checks are also par for the course at most large venues.

What Can Be Done?

As Ecstasy deaths and injuries continue to occur in growing numbers, parents and government officials are searching for ways to stop the spread of this dangerous drug. Some cities have banned raves altogether, and there is currently legislation being drafted in California that would make raves illegal throughout the entire state. While this could potentially reduce MDMA related fatalities, laws like this may also be met with opposition, as many concert goers legitimately attend concerts for the music and do not abuse drugs.

The most effective way of reducing Ecstasy injuries may lie in parents educating their teens about the dangers of MDMA and in young adults to make wise decisions about the way in which they enjoy a concert.

Life in the public eye is not easy for many people: the pressure of fame, a demanding career, and the discomfort of being in the public eye can be incredibly waring. For a person who struggles with addiction, these pressures can be particularly stressful and dangerous. This seems to be the case for Lamar Odom, famed basketball player and husband of Khloe Kardashian. Recently, Odom went missing for several days after his friends and loved ones attempted a third intervention with him.

Long Time Friends Came Together For Support

Many of Odom’s childhood friends became extremely worried about him as he spiraled further and further into addiction. A number of them traveled from New York to talk to Lamar about his addiction. The friends, some of whom are much less affluent than Odom, apparently literally knocked on his door and begged him to come home and get clean. Odom was not receptive to their efforts and responded with anger to his old friends, telling them to go away. When his friends finally were able to see Lamar in person, they learned that the successful star was freebasing cocaine.

Khloe’s Attempts to Help

Odom’s wife, Khloe, has been publicly distraught as she’s attempted to help her husband get clean. Kardashian and her family successfully helped Lamar seek help for his oxycontin addiction last August. Lamar did stay in treatment for a few weeks but relapsed back into addiction shortly after leaving. In addition to trying to help him work through his substance abuse issues, Khloe has attempted several times to stop the affairs Lamar has been engaging in. The couple has spent time in therapy, where they’ve attempted to help strengthen their troubled relationship and identify some of the issues that are leading Odom to use and commit adultery.

Teammates Have Also Tried to Help

Odom’s former teammates on the Los Angeles Lakers and current teammates on the Los Angeles Clippers have also expressed concern for the talented player. Many of them banded together for an intervention with Lamar just around a month ago. Members from both teams talked to Lamar about, among other things, the way his addiction was impacting his career. The discussions went on for a few hours, until Odom apparently abruptly left the site of the intervention.

A Family History of Addiction

Like many addicts, Lamar is at a higher risk for addiction because his father, Joe Odom, is himself a recovering heroin addict. Lamar has had a rocky relationship with his father and has expressed several times that he has serious fears about becoming an addict like him.

Sources do report, however, that Odom has entered a rehab facility, and many people suspect that if he has made the decision to receive the treatment he needs, it may be because his father talked him into entering treatment. While the rich and powerful colleagues and married family he is surrounded with have all attempted to get through to Lamar, it is possible that his father, who knows first hand about struggling with addiction, and whose life story has had such a huge impact on Lamar may be the only person who can get through to him.

Hope For Lamar

It seems clear that Odom has a strong support system around him. His wife, in-laws, immediate family, and teammates are all trying to help him in the best way that they can. By entering treatment, Lamar has made an important step in working towards a much better life. He will certainly need love and support after he leaves treatment and uses the tools he used to stay clean, and hopefully he will be ready to accept that from those he loves.

If a person is engaged in a dangerous compulsive behavior like drug addiction, their friends and family will likely become extremely worried about them. There are few things as frustrating as watching someone you care about putting themselves and those around them in danger. When a person is addicted to drugs or alcohol, they are not in control of their actions. Their mind has become fixated on using and doing whatever they must do to find more drugs or alcohol. This often comes at the price of their jobs, their relationships, and their general well being. People around the addict may be very hurt by the things the addict says or does to them, and have no idea what they can do to help the situation.

It is important that anyone close to an addict realizes that they cannot make a loved one stop using drugs or alcohol. That is ultimately a decision that only the addict themselves can make. What friends and family of an addict can do, however, is make sure that their loved one knows how their addiction is affecting them and making them feel. This is what an intervention is for. If you are ready to stage an intervention, you should make sure that you do the planning and work necessary to make it as effective as possible. Here are the steps you should plan on taking:

If you have a loved one who is suffering from addiction, it is not at all uncommon to feel frustrated and confused about what to do. Addiction is a disease that completely takes over a person’s ability to live their life normally. Most addicts will behave in a way that is hurtful or upsetting to the people around them, and confronting an addict about their behavior can be difficult in a number of ways. Because drugs and alcohol affect a person’s emotions, people who are chemically dependent can be very emotionally unstable.

When a person is addicted to drugs or alcohol, they are also singularly fixated on procuring more drugs or alcohol. This thought drives all of their actions, and any person or thing who gets in the way of them continuing to use will likely be met with anger. For these reasons, no one who plans on confronting their loved one about drug or alcohol abuse should do so alone. If you have come to a place where you realize you must confront a loved one about their addiction, you absolutely should enlist the help of a professional interventionist.

Living with an alcoholic or being close to one often means living in a spiral of despair, guilt, and anger. When a person is addicted to alcohol, they are not in control of their behavior and often act in a way that is dangerous for themselves and those around them. It is a common myth that alcoholics are just people who do not have good character, but the fact of the matter is that anyone can be the victim of addiction.

It has nothing to do with a person’s moral character. If a person is chemically addicted to behavior, they are not in control of their alcohol consumption. This can be hurtful and frustrating for those around the alcoholic, who may not understand why a person cannot quit drinking. They may feel guilt for not being able to do a better job of stopping an alcoholic from drinking, or harbor resentment towards the alcoholic for not being able to drink.

Few things are as difficult as watching a loved one struggle with addiction. Addiction is a destructive force that takes over a person’s entire personality, and watching someone you care about damage themselves, their jobs, and their relatilconships is incredibly difficult and frustrating. It is normal to feel powerless and helpless when someone you love is facing addiction.

Addiction takes over a person’s entire brain and renders them powerless to fight impulses to use. Many addicts may lie about their addiction and how much they use. They may make promises that they intend to quit, or tell people that they have stopped using when they have not.

Addicts are not the only ones who can be in denial about their addiction. Friends and family can also remain in denial about whether their loved one actually needs treatment. How do you know when an addict is at risk?
How can you tell if you should stage an intervention?

If you have a friend or family member who is suffering from addiction, chances are you have considered staging an intervention. It is incredibly devastating to watch a loved one struggle with addiction. They may often claim to quit, only to use again. Their moods may shift dramatically, and they may lash out and become unstable at even the mention of the thought of help. If an addict has reached this serious and severe stage of addiction, the important people in his or her life may have no choice but to stage an intervention.

Staging an intervention is a last ditch effort to appeal to an addict’s desire to get clean. No one but an addict can decide to get healthy, but communicating with the addict in as clear and serious of a fashion possible may be the impetus for the addict to finally come to terms with the severity of their addiction. While an intervention can be a very useful tool in convincing an addict to get help, staging the intervention is an extremely challenging process. Confronting an addict may very well cause them to go on the defensive, and end in a fight that sends the addict further away from their loved ones. So, how does one stage an intervention? How can you get through to your loved one and have the highest probability of a success rate?